Locking devices for scaffold bracing members



May 17, 1955 H. c.-B|NGLE DEVICES Foa scAFFoLD BRACI'NG 1'vlmluaaERs Filed April 22, 1952' ATT/ United States Patent O LOCKING DEVICES FOR SCAFFOLD BRACING MEMBERS Harry C. Bingle, Ellwood City, Pa.

Application April 22, 1952, Serial No. 283,741

2 Claims. (Cl. 304-40) i This invention relates generally to locking devices and is directed particularly to novel locking devices designed especially for coupling together units such as steel scaffolding uprights and braces between the saine.

A particular object ofthe present invention is to provide, 1n a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved safety locking device for use particularly, though not necessarily, in the erection of steel scaffolding, wherein a gravity actuated locking element or gravity actuated locking elements, function to automatically establish a positive -and safe locking coupling between elements of the locking mechanism carried by parts of the scaifolding and a bracing member connected between two such vertical parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism of the character above described, which is so designed that it will automatically lock itself by gravity when cooperating parts are put together and which will resist any tendency to work loose as a result of movement of the elements or vibrations imposed thereon, but which may be easily and quickly released manually when it is desired to separate the coupled parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however,

`that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion of an upright scaffold unit showing the locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, and joiing an2end of a brace or strut thereto.

igure is a sectional view taken line 2 2 of Figure l. substantially on the Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, beneath the horizontal rail of the unit.

I Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 and showing an end portion of each of two struts in assembled position.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a portion of an upright unit of a scaiolding structure showing the attachment thereto of end portions of two bracing struts, by means of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of one bracing strut showing the portions of the coupling mechanism carried on the ends thereof.

leferring now more particularly to the drawing there is illustrated an element generally designated 10 which may represent a vertical post of a steel scaiolding structure and a horizontal rail 12 which is welded to the post and forms therewith a part of one of a number of vertical units which are connected together by bracing struts,

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FP'ice releasably coupled at their ends with the units by the locking mechanism of the present invention.

No illustration is believed to be necessary of the complete scaf't'olding structure since the invention is primarily in the locking coupling between associated parts such, for example, as a vertical unit and an end of a brace strut, as illustrated in Figure 5.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an elongate open top box like unit which is generally designated 14, which comprises the vertical side plates 16 and a transverse bottom plate 18. This box 14 is positioned against the 4underside of the rail 12 in the angle formed with one end against and secured, as by Welding, or in any other suitable manner, to the side of the vertical post 10. The top edges of the side plates 16 are welded to the rail 12.

The outer ends of the side plates are each provided with a short horizontal slot 20, such slots being parallel as shown and above each slot, each side plate has formed integrally therewith the inset longitudinally extending flat arm 22 for the purpose about to be described. These arms are likewise welded to the overlying rail 10.

The reference character 24 designates the upper ends of bracing struts which are to be connected with opposite sides of the box unit 14 to extend downwardly therefrom as illustrated in Figure 5, for connection at their lower ends with corresponding box units supported in the angle between a vertical post and horizontal rails 10 and 12 of ari adjacent unit whereby to provide the desired bracing action, it being understood that suchbracing str-nts may be arranged in crossed relation with corresponding struts extending upwardly from the lower part of the post 10 to adjacent upright scaffold units.

A complete strut 24 is illustrated in Figure 6 and as shown each of the two ends of the strut is cut olf in a plane oblique to the length of the strut and such end planes are parallel so that when the strut is set up at an angle between an upper box unit 14 on one scaffolding unit and a box at a lower elevation on an adjacent scaiolding' unit the parts carried by the two ends of the strut will be substantially horizontally disposed for connection with the box units 14.

Such parts carried by the two ends of the strut 24 comprise, at each end of the strut, the two spaced disks 28 which are joined together by the pin 26 which passes through the center of one disk and is secured to the center of the adjacent disk. The disk which has the end of the pin secured to the center thereof is welded to the end face of the strut 24 while the opposite end of the pin extends outwardly a substantial distance beyond the outer face of the other disk as is clearly shown in Figure 6.

The pin 26 in the part thereof lying between the pair of disks 28 is of a diameter to enter a slot 20 of a plate 16 as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the spacing between the pair of disks 28 being slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 16 to permit such action. Thus the extended end portion of the pin 26 will lie within .the box in a position to be engaged and held by the keeper members about to be described.

Each of the arms 22 has secured therein an end of a rivet 31 which has an inner end portion 31a of larger diameter which projects inwardly beyond the inner face of the arm 22 and such larger diameter portion extends through a suitable pivot opening in the outer end of an elongate gravity latch or keeper 32. Such gravity latches or keepers are in the form of flat plates and each has an inner end or head portion 32a which is of arcuate form at the inner end thereof as indicated at 32b, such arc being struck from the center of the pivot rivet 31.

It will, of course, be obvious that the rivets 31 are axially aligned transversely of the supporting arms 22 and, as shown in Figure 4, the length of the keepers 32 is such that when the pins 26 are introduced into the slots 20 and have been moved inwardly to the inner ends thereof, the arcuate forward ends 32h of the keepers will drop down across the pins 26 and thus lock the pins against reverse movement in the slots.

As is also shown in Figure 4, each of the keepers has a portion extended outwardly from the pivot 3l beyond the outer end of the arm 22, which provides a means for knocking the keepers loose by striking the outer ends thereof with a hammer or other suitable implement in the event that the upward swinging of the keepers is found diicult after the structure has been set up.

It will also be seen that the under edges of the head portion 32a of the keepers are, for a part of their lengths, oblique to the length of the keeper to provide a camming edge 32C against which the pins ^"6 are forced in assembling the members. in this way, as the end of the strut 24 is moved into position the pin 26 thereof will be entered into a slot 20 and will ride against the inclined under edge 32e of the adjacent keeper and elevate the latter, or ride under the keeper until it has reached the inner end of the slots, whereupon the keeper will drop down as previously stated to etect the locking of the parts together.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that there is provided by the present invention a relatively simple but strong and sate locking mechanism by means of which a vertical and a horizontal element of the character stated may be easily and quickly coupled together and also whereby such elements or units can be as easily uncoupled when it is desired to take down the structure with which the locking mechanism is used.

I claim:

l. ln a brace locking device for a scaffolding structure, including a vertical tubular post and a horizontal tubular rail secured at one end to the post, said device comprising a bracing strut, a rectangular plate welded along a side edge to said post and along its top edge to said rail, said plate having a horizontal slot opening through its other side edge, a disk secured on an end of said strut and juxtapositioned with respect to the outer side of said plate, a pin projecting outward from the center of said disk and passing through said slot, a second disk mounted on said pin intermediate the ends thereof in juxtapositioned relation with respect to the inner side of said plate, an elongate arm extending inwardly from the upper end of the said other side edge of said plate, and a latch member pivoted adjacent the free end of said arm and having an end to swing downwardly into engagement with said pin adjacent to the outer side of the second disk to retain the pin within said slot.

2. The device as dened in claim l, with said latch member being elongated and having the pivot connection with said arm adjacent its other end and the first end thereof widened and provided with an arcuate end edge t'or a cam-like action on the surface of said pin, when swinging downwardly into engagement therewith simultaneously with the insertion of the pin inwardly of said slot.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 495,537 Westerman Apr. i8, 1893 2,386,710 Pancoe et al. Oct. 9, 1945 2,483,862- Weisz Oct. 4. 1949 

